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Wallingford bathing season opens this week

This week sees the start of the bathing season in England, and this means that from 15 May, regular tests will be carried out on water samples from the River Thames at Wallingford throughout the summer.

(From left) Cllr Steve Holder, Deputy mayor of Wallingford, Cllr David Rouane and Cllr Katharine Keats-Rohan from South Oxfordshire District Council

Since Wallingford Beach was designated as a bathing water area last year, the Environment Agency is obliged to take weekly water samples from the site during bathing season (15 May – 30 September), test them for two types of bacteria (both of which can cause serious illness, including vomiting and fever) and publish the results within a few days.

South Oxfordshire District Council has installed a new noticeboard at the site, and this will display information about the bathing water site including details of how to find the test results.  This allows swimmers and other river users to make informed choices about how they can safely enjoy the river at Wallingford.

Cllr David Rouane (left) is pictured at the new noticeboard with deputy mayor of Wallingford Cllr Steve Holder and Thames21 volunteer (and paddleboarder) Julie Bywater.

At the end of each bathing season the Environment Agency then gives a classification depending on the results of that year. Bathing water sites can be classified as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient’ or ‘poor’, based on the analysis of levels of the bacteria, E. coli and intestinal Enterococci, found in the samples.

Following testing during its first season in 2024, Wallingford Beach was classified by the Environment Agency as ‘poor’.  Analysis of the samples showed that there were high levels of bacteria on two occasions during the weekly testing over the five months of testing.

A poor bathing water classification means the water at a designated bathing site has not met the minimum standards set by the Bathing Water Regulations.  It indicates a potential health risk for people who bathe in the water, and sites with this classification, such as Wallingford, are marked with a sign advising against bathing. This does not mean that bathing is banned, sites remain open for people to enjoy as they choose to. River users are always advised to check up to date data sources to help understand the current water quality and, links to these data sources have been provided on the new sign. 

Cllr David Rouane, South Oxfordshire District Council Leader and cabinet member for climate action, said: “Wallingford Beach has long been a popular spot for swimming, canoeing and paddleboarding. However, designated bathing sites are not an indicator that it is safe from pollution and health hazards. What designation does do is ensure that the water at Wallingford is regularly tested and local river users can make an informed choice about whether they use the river at a given time.”

South Oxfordshire District Council Thames Champion, Cllr Jo Robb, said: “While it was disappointing that Wallingford was classified as poor, looking at the stats the rating was largely due to those to two spikes in bacteria levels.  

“Thanks to its designation as a bathing area, river users have more information about water quality in the River Thames at Wallingford.  Regular testing helps the Environment Agency and Thames Water identify and address the sources of pollution at sites like Wallingford which are classified as poor.”

Notes to editors

Wallingford Beach, which is located next to Wallingford Bridge, was designated as a bathing area in May 2024 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), following an application by the environmental charity Thames 21, supported by South Oxfordshire District Council and Wallingford Town Council.

The Environment Agency tests samples from the site each week. Results from this sampling are uploaded approximately five days after testing and are available via a QR code located on a noticeboard at the riverside. The water is tested for two types of bacteria, E. coli and intestinal Enterococci.

The official bathing water season runs 15 May to 30 September.

The Environment Agency has prepared a Bathing Water profile for the site which details results of any testing: Environment Agency’s Bathing Water Profile for Wallingford Beach

At times, especially after heavy rain, water companies discharge untreated sewage into rivers and waterways. Thames Water’s storm discharge map shows near real-time storm discharge activity.  General advice is to avoid swimming in the river for a few days after a period of heavy rainfall.  

Oxford Rivers Portal has been created to share current and past information about your local rivers and streams – explore the data portal to find out about local river conditions today: https://oxfordrivers.ceh.ac.uk/portal

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